Philip Hall, prosecuting, said Walker went to the home of Tracey Quinn on February 9 in a temper because their sons had been fighting. Sammon went with her after taking an ornamental samurai sword from the wall of his house.

Mr Hall said: "Sammon produced the sword and was seen waving it about his head."

Simon Killeen, defending Sammon, said he had been affected by being charged with the murder of two men in 2002.